Former Assam chief minister and veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi passed away at 86 after falling critically ill due to post-Covid complications.
Former Assam chief minister and veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi passed away at 86 on Monday after falling critically ill due to post-Covid complications. Earlier in the day, it was reported that Gogoi was extremely critical and on complete life support at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was among the first persons to confirm the development. He said Gogoi passed away after a prolonged illness at 5.34 PM today. Sarma, who visited the government-run hospital in the morning, earlier said that Gogoi’s health condition had turned extremely critical.
“The doctors are getting some signs only from his brain. The doctors also noticed a little eye movement. But, all other organs have stopped functioning. Now at this moment, I don’t think that the doctors have other options. All things are now with God. We are praying for his early recovery and hopefully, God will hear our prayer,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said earlier in the day.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had also cancelled all his government programmes today and left for Guwahati from Dibrugarh in view of Tarun Gogoi’s deteriorating health condition.
“Flying back to Guwahati from Dibrugarh after cancelling my programmes midway to be on the side of respected Tarun Gogoi da & his family as the former CM’s health deteriorates. He has always been a father figure to me. I join millions in praying for his recovery,” he said in a tweet.
In a fresh tweet, the Assam chief minister expressed condolences after the demise of Tarun Gogoi. “I express heartfelt condolences on the demise of former Chief Minister, a tall leader and our most respected Tarun Gogoi da. It’s the end of an era in Assam’s public life. He was so vibrant and full of life until a few days back, couldn’t believe this sad news,” Sonowal said.
President Ramnath Kovind expressed sorrow after the news of Tarun Gogoi’s death. “Extremely sad to know of the demise of Shri Tarun Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam. The country has lost a veteran leader with rich political and administrative experience. His long tenure in office was a period of epochal change in Assam,” he said.
